5. Relations and disputes with parliaments 1603 - 29 Flashcards
James’ aims as king (3)
1) Political union of Scotland and England
2) Peace abroad - Rex Pacificus
3) Religious stability and conformity - juxtaposing
1604 parliament
1604-1611, failure after great contract - James started lecturing abt prerogative rights, Pment responds w/ statements abt Pmentary privilege - relationship broken down
Buckinghamshire Election
1604 - During elections for MP of Buckinghamshire region, Francis Goodwin won but not allowed - an outlaw for unpaid debt by (the Crown’s) Court of Chancery. J puts in John Fortescue (privy councilor) - angered Pment, seen as royal interference + J ‘packing’ P with supporters. To solve, James suggested a new election be called altogether.
Union of England and Scotland
James wanted to pursue a POLITICAL unification (currently DYNASTIC) of his 2 kingdoms during 1606 - believe it’s God’s plan to have one nation w/ one faith - ‘can’t have a husband w/ 2 wives’. Pment disagrees - fears he would use the opportunity to rewrite the laws to be more absolutist (anti-Scottish sentiment 1603). Also disagreed on ideas of finance and remaking of parliament.
Why was the political union w/ Scotland opposed by Pment (4)
1) Unrealistic due to anti-Scot hostility - described as ‘murderers, thieves and rouges’ in 1607 by Sir Pigot, Sir Sandys - ‘better than aliens but not equal with natural subjects’
2) Fears that union of commerce would damage English prosperity
3) Merger of Scottish and English law might cost parliament some of its powers
4) Could lead to influx of Scots ready to monopolise patronage
July 1604 Parliament prorogued
Due to Pment’s lack of enthusiasm and delaying tactics in response to James demand of a union by act of law under the name GB (which would extinguish all existing laws).
October 1604 Proclamation
James declares he’s ‘King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith’
Addled Parliament
1614 - 3 months long - Failed Pment refusing James’ need for money - resented from impositions, factional conflict between Howards pro-Spanish faction and the protestant faction, manipulation of MP’s such as Bacon and Neville through goodwill and patronage made fears of absolutism increased.
Reasons why the Addled Pment failed (4)
1) Financial issues - needs funding, debt at £680,000
2) Factional conflict - political dysfunction between Catholic Howards and competing protestant factions
3) Plans for crown interference in elections through patronage (extreme Buckingham election) exposed - increased fears of absolutism
4) Impositions - key source of tension, James wanted to close Pment before discussion properly raised
Treaty of London
1604 - made peace with Spain after 2 decades of war - angered protestants
Through which ways did James achieve a FP of alliance with both Catholic and Protestant nations (3)
1608 - joined Protestant Union of European States (common treasury and army), supported by France + Dutch Republic
1612 - married his daughter to Fredrick Elector Palatine - leading German Protestant prince
1614 - considered marrying C to the Infanta of Spain
- This FP was badly received - memories + mythology of Spanish tensions, protestant pros undermined by flirtation w/ Spain
1621 parliament
Called to scare the Spanish by raising money for war. Granted 2 subsidies totaling £140,000 Ended in 1621, disputes over finance, factionalism, religion, favourites, foreign policy and anti-Catholicism.
Execution of Sir Walter Raliegh
Kept on raiding Spanish ships when told not to - caused outcry, protestant hero - Pment frustrated + confused - seemed to not side w/ Protestants (J wants Rex Pacificus)
1621 foreign policy disputes
Foreign policy traditionally crown prerogative, but in 1621 James allowed parliament to discuss it to convince them of the Spanish match. However, the commons went hard into Spanish match, on 3rd Dec a petition criticised it, and on the 18th a protestation declared a “undoubted birth right” for parliament to discuss foreign policy + the nature of war w/ Spain (i.e. it being only naval). 30 years war put further strain on James’ relationship with PN.
James’ reaction to the Protestation
Had it torn out of the Commons journal - seen as Pment encroaching on royal powers
1624 parliament
James being ill led to
Buckingham and Charles taking over. Anti-Spanish foreign policy led to Anglo-Spanish war. James was not given money for this though.
Reasons for Charles’ financial struggles
Charles wished to pursue a more aggressive foreign policy to please parliament and the political nation and expected a cost of £1,000,000 but parliament only granted him 2 subsidies in 1625 and tonnage and poundage for one year. Because of this, debt was at £2,000,000 by 1629 and Charles was forced to use prerogative income.
Forced Loan
1626 - A forced loan for MP’s to pay Charles, 76 were imprisoned for failing to pay. Only £267,000, 2/3 of what Charles wanted, was collected. Richard Cust believes this was a test of political loyalty.
Charles I’s First Parliament
1625 - Charles granted minimal funds for his 30 years war involvement, but continued to use tonnage and poundage anyways. Buckingham attacked for the influence. Attack Charles’ support of Montagu but Charles appointed him as royal chaplain in response. Charles refused to compromise and dissolved it in August 25.
Mansfield Expedition
1625 - Charles raised 6000 men (through impressment - kidnapped drunkards) shipped off to Holland to get involved in the 30 years war - no training and badly equipped. 4000 of 6000 died of disease and starvation, rest never went into battle
Cadiz Expedition
1625 - Failed to take major Spanish port of Cadiz or capture Spanish treasure fleet (transporting gold from South America) - more troops lost to lack of food than because of enemy gunfire, no disciplined - found a Wine store, returned after only briefly capturing a small fort
Meant no money and another parliament needed to be called.
1626 parliament
Opened by Laud who stressed obedience to the King, parliament upset at this. Edward Coke and Thomas Wentworth, key critics, had been silenced through appointments as sheriffs. Parliament wanted to blame Buckingham, lord high admiral, for Cadiz but Charles believed it was parliaments lack of funding. Parliament did not want to give this money and began impeachment of Buckingham with John Elliot leading an attack. Earl of Bristol also threatened to leak Buckingham bribing Catholics. Charles charged Bristol with treason, who charged Buckingham with treason, and Charles dissolved parliament to save Buckingham whilst threatening parliaments future existence.
Forced Loan/ Five Knights Case
Forced loan, as a prerogative income, smacked of absolutism, worrying PN. Five Knights Case saw 5 remaining unpayers imprisoned without trial under prerogative. The judgement gave him the prerogative to imprison without trial in this circumstance, but Charles had Attorney General Robert Heath change the legal record to state this was a general right. 5 Knights released in 1628 but damage to PN relationship already done.
La Rochelle
1627 - Buckingham led an attack on Protestant Huguenots of France, but failed due to the siege ladders being too short and other incompetencies. Led to war with France and Spain. Of 7833 that left to La Rochelle, only 2989 returned from Ile De Re.
1628-29 Parliament
Commons initially willing to compromise due to Charles appointing John Coke to communicate for him. Agreed to grant 5 subsidies in return for addressing of tonnage and poundage, billeting (forcing of civilians to house soldiers) and martial law, and imprisonment without trial. Charles refused and led to Parliament proposing a bill of rights headed by John Eliot. However, parliament chose to go with the less radical petition of right.
Petition of Right
Document prepared by parliament in 1628 to restrict Kings power and ensure he could be trusted to rule. Main points are parliament having to consent to taxation, removal of imprisonment without trial, removal of billeting and martial law. Charles accepted this on 7th June but used wrong royal assent, making it invalid. Upset political nation but Charles changed royal assent after backlash.
Buckingham and his assassination
Buckingham attacked by parliament with Coke denouncing him as the “cause of all our miseries”. A written grievance issued on 17th June (remonstrance) attacked Buckinghams foreign policy failures. Another remonstrance issued a week later on tonnage and poundage. On 23rd August, Buckingham was assassinated by John Felton, a soldier who had previously been at La Rochelle. Death met with public rejoice and Charles closed down Pment withdrew further from public life, relying more on his wife - TP
James’ rex pacificus approach was viewed with suspicion by many who believed he should be more actively protecting the Protestant cause, leading to conflict as seen by: (3)
1) 1621 Protestation - asserted that the rights of Pment “are the ancient and undoubted birth right and inheritance of the subjects of England” after J says only prerogative of King to talk about FP debates (over nature of war against Spain)
2) Early years - didn’t have sympathy to Dutch rebels + instead signs Treaty of London 1604: peace with Spain – concerns over religious policy – Act of execution of the recusant statutes 1604
3) Pursuit of Marriage treaty with Spain 1623 – public rejoicing at its failure (including bonfires and anti-Catholic sermons)
The vagaries of the political system meant that James’ approach was sometimes viewed as abuse of his power leading to conflict with MPs, as seen by: (6)
1) Impositions 1606-21
2) Addled Pment 1614 – closed before discussions of impositions could be properly raised – angered Pment
3) Bates case 1606 + then Book of Rates 1608 (new impositions + raised payment on 1400 goods) – impositions, complained about in 1610 and 1614, raising new impositions – not lawful
4) Great contract 1610 + James’ speech after -
5) Buckinghamshire election 1604 - Francis Goodwin branded outlaw for unpaid debt by court of chancery - John Fortescue replaced Godwin - many saw this as a royal interference – Fortescue = privy councillor
6) Delaying tactics by Sir Edwin Sandy’s for debates about a union with Scotland 1606 + increased tensions through Oct 1604 Proclamation by James – ‘King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the faith’
7) Plans by crown that would attempt to influence elections through patronage leaked 1614 – fears of absolutism (influenced closure of Addled Pment)
8) 1621 Protestation - asserted that the rights of Pment “are the ancient and undoubted birth right and inheritance of the subjects of England” after J says only prerogative of King to talk about FP debate (over nature of war against Spain)
The failures in FP under Charles and Buckingham caused problems as seen by: (5)
1) Buckingham’s assassination (23/8/1628) due to the failure at La Rochelle 1626-7 (when trying to revenge France after they didn’t return the favour of British aid in stopping Huguenots at La Rochelle) – direct assault failed bc ladders 5 feet too short, only 3000/7833 soldiers return (w/ John Felton)
2) Attack against the Protestant Huguenots in 1626 (La Rochelle – to please France) only success – Pment questioned intensions of C+B + even after French didn’t help Britain [by, a) not helping over the Palatine, b) build a big fleet to acquire new trading posts in the New World + c) accusing C of breaching marriage terms (not tolerant enough of Catholics)]
3) Can’t rely on Buckingham (high admiral) – untrustworthy, in charge of failed expeditions – seen to waste Pment’s money (they gave £250,000 for naval war in 1625) e.g. Cadiz 1625 – poor planning – not enough food, Buckingham doesn’t actually manage to intercept the Spanish, untrained undisciplined troops - Ogle took stock of what the Duke had prepared and wrote that the men were completely unfit “by reason of age, impotency, sickness and other infirmities.”
4) Failure at Cadiz, in not stealing gold from Spanish owned South America, also meant that he had to call the 1626 Pment to ask for money
5) Written grievance 17/6/1628 Pment viciously attacked Buckingham’s FP failures
Key Individual under C: Buckingham (9)
1) Shown to be unreliable in the Cadiz Expedition, 1625
2) The failure at La Rochelle 1626/27 – untrustworthy + hated (as shown by his assassination)
3) Closure of the 1626 Parliament (led to forced loan?)
4) Closure of the 1929 Parliament – due to Buckingham’s assassination – scenes of rejoicing in the HoC at relief (starting Personal rule)
5) Rise of Laud through Buckingham’s patronage – Dean of Chapel Royal in 1625, a member of the privy council + supporting him in York conference in 1626 and bishop of London in 1628
6) 1626 – as Chancellor of Cambridge uni – made all teachings on predestination forbidden – supporting Arminianism (rejects Calvinist beliefs)
7) Charles leaned on him due to his lack of confidence
8) Written grievance 17/6/1628 Pment viciously attacked Buckingham’s FP failures
9) John Elliot led an attack on him in the 1626 Pment – started to think abt impeaching him
